Running Train Chugs Into Early Access

Running Train | 走ル列車！ just dropped into Steam Early Access on May 24, a solo dev project from Indonesian outfit Novatetsu Games that's already pulling solid concurrent numbers and Very Positive buzz. Two fictional Japanese rural lines, 40km of handcrafted scenery, four train types, spring and winter seasons, photo mode, and controller support right out the gate — but passengers? Conductor mode? Extra lines? All still in the pipeline through 2027.

The graphics are the real hook: backgrounds so lush and realistic they fooled folks into thinking it's live footage, which is exactly why the JP gaming press and X train otaku are already hyped. Game*Spark called the backgrounds "too realistic" and noted partial mascon (master controller) support at launch. Steam's sitting at around 500+ concurrent players with 98% positive from 162 reviews so far, no passengers yet so those empty cars feel appropriately ghostly for a v0.9 build.

Solo dev Rizu laid out the roadmap clear: passenger pickup and more lines by end of year, full conductor stuff by Q3 2027, full release sometime Q2-Q4 next year. At 2,682 yen on sale right now (regular 2,980), it's whale-bait for the dedicated rail sim crowd who want that authentic Japanese countryside run without the big-studio bloat. Early Access done right when the dev actually ships what they promise.

COMMENTS

Dadmode_EngagedDollar Per Hour Judge +127 -4

40km of Japanese scenery and no passengers yet? My kid would ask why the train is empty and honestly I'd have no answer worth the $30 Early Access price tag.

Lena "Boomstick" ReyesSTAFF

Bro it's a solo dev dropping realistic empty cars in spring and winter. Passengers are literally next. Your kid can watch the scenery load while you touch grass.

Colin "The Drain" WhitakerSTAFF

Early Access conversion projections for Novatetsu remain conservative at 11% across the first quarter. We are monitoring passenger implementation milestones against this baseline.

Colin I swear to god if you bring quarterly projections into a Japanese train comment section again I will personally mail you a 40km route of nothing.